Music-sheet turner



J. T. GENTRY vMUSIC SHEET TURNER Jan. 17, 1928.' 1,656,273

Filed April 2e. '1924 2 sheets-sneer. 1

' Jem ffy/r emily.

ff WW Jan. 17,l 1928.

J. T. GENTRY MUSIC SHEET TURNER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EiledApril 2e. 1924 l.

VII/II Patented Jan. 1 7, l 928. A

narran sTATss PATENT orrice.

JESSE TAYLOR- GENTRY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALFORNIA.

Music-SHEET TURNER.

As pp'cation filed april 2G, 1924. Serial No. 709,155.

rlhis invention relates to an appliance 'for the sheet is consummated the turned sheet turning the pages ot music either in a bool( stops noiselessly. or sheed form; and an object is to provide a Another object is to provide means tor simple means tor turning the sheets quickly turning the music sheets separately and in and eiiiciently at the proper time in a perconsecutive order so that confusion cannoty 60 tormance without laborous or troublesome arise by having two or more ot the sheets cii'ort ot a performer; and without interturned at the same time. Such confusion rupting the continuity ot the music. oi'ten arises in a performance by an attendl't is customary in a recital comprising antinadvertently turning two or more sheets 1U several pages, it'or a performer to have an that cling or sticlr together; and an object 6r attendant to turn the sheets at the proper ot' the invention as stated is to provide means time, which arrangement detr cts from4 the ior preventing more than one sheet to be performance and is rarely satisfactory, as it turned at a single time. is seldom that two persons can mentally read Features ot the invention are shown in ne musi@ in Substantially the same time, the construction, combination and arrange- "o Ma y performers read their music in close ment ot' the various parts whereby a music relationship to its production while others sheet turned embodying` neatness, durability, read it tar in advance; and this great ditand great usefulness is produced. terence in music reading by the performers Other objects, advantages and features or0 20 makes the art oi page turning by an attcndinvention may appear trom the accompany- 75 ant uncertain ot satisfactouyY results; also ing drawings, the subjoined detailed dcthe extending ci' an attendantls hand across description and the appended claims.

a page to turn a sheet ottimes results detri The accompanying drawings illustrate the mental to goed production; and an object ot invention.

25 the invention is to provide a simple and et'- Figure l is a liront view ot a music sheet 8G ective means for turning the sheets at subturner constructed in accordance with this stantially the right times so that a pertormer invention7 and showing an open sheetot can render a production from page to page music thereon in position tor the succeeding without coniusing interruptions. pages to be turned by the appliance.

il Another object or the invention is to pro- Fig. 2 is a side view ot the appliance as 8.5

vide a music sheet turner that is especially seen trom the right side ot Fig. l, showing adapted `for use of a. performer employing a part ot the pedestal broken away to disboth hands in renderinoq a composition. To close a portion oil the cable connecting the that end, l provide a music stand having a arm releasing` appliance with the Jtoot pedal.

if sheet turner connected therewith that can be Fig. 3 is an enlarged 'ragmental side View 90 operated by a toot pedal to automatica]ly analogous to the upper portion et Fig. 9

i? turn the sheets one by one, and at the proper showing the sheet turning arms set in posi-- time. tion to turn the music sheets.

Another object is to provide a music sheet Fig'. i is an enlarged 'traginental iront 'l turner that will hold the pages straight and view analogous to the upper portion ot Fig. 95

smooth; so tha i they willnot lold or bo disl with the music removed. i placed when turned by the appliance. Fig. is an enlarged 'l'ragmental section rino-ther object or the invention is to proon line Fig. el, showing a detail ot the vide a. music sheet turner thatwill turn the linger on which is mounted the clamp tor sheets without causing an excessive amount holding an outside edge ot the sheets ot 10o ot' noise. 'lo that endg l provide a means music. for actuating the sheet turning arms com- Fig. 6 is an enlarged tragmental section prising coiled springs the tensions ot' which on line Ll, showing a detail of the are released after the arms have consumclamp tor holding the top edge ot the music l mated the hrst halt ot their sheet turning backing or c ver to the music raclr. 105

movement. so that in the last halt they are Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view on carried on a tall page turning movement line ce?, Fig. 4, showing a clamp attached to by momentum. This momentum is graduan arm and acapted to hold the bottom edges ally overcome by air resistance against the ot' the sheets ot music that are to be turned.

n 3h' so that when the lfull turn of; `lig. S an enlarged fragment-al cross 1i() liv section on line m8, Fig. e, showing a hinged connection otl the rack wings to the rack posts, and a. back stop in connection therewith.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmental section on line m95 Fig. d, showing a detail oit a clamp for holding the outside edges of the sheets or" music that are to be turned.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the coiled springs for actuating the sheet turner arms. Y

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmental section on lines rc1?, Figs. 1, 2, 3, d.

Fig. 12 is a iragmental section on line ai, Fig. 11, Vshowing' all of the music turning arms extended in their normal position to the left of the rack.

*ig.'13 is a jfragmental section analogous to Fig. 12, showing all of the music turning armsextended to the right oi the raclehi position to be actuated by their respective springs to turn the sheets ot music when the arms are released by the ioot pedal.

Fig. 1e is a fragmental cross section on line ce, Fig. 13. showing the means .for holding and releasing the music turning arms. i

Fig. 15 is a sectional view analogous to ,F 14, showing the means actuated to release one and hold the other arms.

Fig. 16 is a ragmental cross section on line nel, Fig. 127 showing the means for supporting and actuating the page turning arms and springs.

. F 17 is a fragmental section on line 00.17,

- Fig. 18, showing the turning arms in a set- 1 that supports a housing 2 in which the means for actuating the sheet turning arms 3 is Vmounted and arranged. i i

At the rear of the housing 1 a riser 1- on which the music rack 5 is supported.

The rack 5 can be constructed and arranged as desired; as shown it comprises a` pair o'll wings (i secured by hinges 7 to :the posts 8 that extend upward from and which lare securedto the riser d; also the post." 8 are supported by oi' et extensions 9 that are secured to the housing 2, see 2, 3.

Atthe bottom of the wings 6 is arranged a grooved rest 10 that is adapted to receive the bottom edges of the irst'and last sheet of apiece of music, or the cover when the music is in hook form; and also clamps 11 are'provided for holding the top edges of? the lirst and last sheets or book cover to the rack; it being understood ot course when the music is in boolr form that all or tue sheets except the intermediate sheets to be played are seated on the rest 10 and secured the front of the pedestal as shown in the drawings.

The housing 2 comprisesa platform 1d to which is secured the end plates 15 and back plate 16 integral at its upper end with the riser l. yThe ends 15 are provided with angle irons 17 that form guides for the de- `aehalole front plate 18; and valso the ends 15 carry the bars 19 that form supports for the split removable cover 2O of the housing 2.

The cover 2O is provided with an openingl 21 in vthe center of which is arranged a bearing pin 22 on which the page turning arms 3 are pivotally mounted.

Pin 22 is supported by a. brac iet 23 that is secured to the platform 14 and back plate 16.

rfliers are preferably 'four of the page turning arms 3, but there can be more or less if desired; and these arms are provided with bearing ends having upper and lower bearings 24, 25 that are spaced apart and arranged so as to be pivotally mounted on the pin 22y between the coiled springs 26 and 2T; and these springs are adapted to yield slightly when any of the arms are moving so that the yielding' of the springs will coinpensate for a change in position 'of the hearings.

The bearings 2li, 25 oi the arms 21 ar spaced apart by bars 28.j each of' which is provided with a lug 29 to which one end V3) of a coiled spring 31 Yis adapted to be attached. There are four ot the coiled springs 31, or one for each arm; and they are also mounted on pin. 22 and arranged between the bearings se. ot the arms. l

1n constructing the bearings 25 they are iist stamped out and liattened with the bars 2S; after which the 'arms are arranged Vside by side and the bearings arranged in a turner that is actuated to give the a bearings a halt' turn so that as tin are closely fitted together and arr. right angles'to the bars 2S and ai'ins 3.

The other end portions of the coiled springs 81 are arranged at an angle to the ends V and are adapted to engage a. post 33 when the arms 3 are moved one half ot' the arc from their normal or rest position shown in Figs. 1l, 12 to an operative peer nemers tion shown in Figs. 13, 14, and 17, in which latter position the springs 31 are under suiiicient tension to torce the arms 3 onchaii4l the distance from operative toward vnormal position when they are released` The arms 3 are preferably termed et sheet metal, and arranged to move in an arc ot' one hundred and eighty degrees; and in this movement trom an operative to a normal position they are impelled one halt o'l the distance or ninety degrees by tension of their respective springs; and the remainder of the distance they move by momentum trom the springs; and during the movement by momentum the arms are retarded by air resistance on the music sheet so that by the time they approach a fully idle position their progress is relatively slow, and they stop without causing a noise.

The arms 3 are held against the tension of the springs 31 by means of a dog B-'i that is integral with and carried by a reciprocatingv :trame 35. This trame has bearings 3G slidably mounted in guides 3T et a braclreJ and the trame is supported by springs 39 engaging the guides. Also the :trame has a bearing that is slidably mounted in a guide Ll1 secured to the bracket 38, by which arrangement ot parts the Ytrame is held up` right and can reciprocate in its bearings.

Normally the trame 35 is supported in position whereby the dog 34 engages with extensions l2 to hold the arms 3 against the tension ot the springs 3l. rlhe frame is moved down against the supporting springs 39 to release the dogl 3% from the extensions 42; and it is so actuated by means et a draw rod t3 that connects the trame 35 with an intermediate lever la pivoted at l5 and which has its tree end i6 connected by a cable t? to a tread lever L18 that is pivoted at the bottom of the pedestal 1 by a bearing` 4S).

The tread lever -lS is arranged so that it can be easily reached and operated by either a standing or sitting' performer. Y

When the tread lever 48 is actuated it forces the ilrame 35 downwardly and the dog` Bel is moved below the lower edges ot the extension Ll2 so that an arm is released and can be turned back trom set to normal position by the springs 31.

'lo prevent more than one arm from being released at one time a wedge 419 is pivotally mounted on a pin 50 in the frame in position to descend in time with the movement of the dog 3ft and wedge in between the extension l2 of the arm released and the adjacent extension to hold back the other arms.

In other words the wedge moves down at the same speed as the dog and wedges in between the two extensions adjacent the dog beiore the one contacting with the dog is released; so that by reciprocating the trame downward repeatedly by the toot lever e8 the arms 3 be consecutively released to move from a set to normal position and thereby turn the" music sheets attached thereto. A spring 51 and set screw are provided `lor norn'ially holding` the wedge 49 in a position to engage or in between the extensions L2 when the trame is moved downward; and the spring also permits the wedge to be moved into the position shown by dotted line in Fig. .14- to toi-m a clearance between the points et' ythe dog and wedge through which the extensions -Li can be passed when the arms 23 are to be set.

The top edges of the extensions 42 are beveled as shown in the drawings so that ythe point oi' the wedge 419 can easily pass between them to co-act with the dog 3l to release one ot the arms and hold baci; the others.

Each et the arms f3 sliding lingers 53 that best shown in Figs. d, 5. As seen therein the lingers 53 have base ends 5st p-rovided with rectangular openings through which the arms 3 extend7 and on which the fingers are slidable so that they can be moved toward or away from the pivoted ends of the arms.

The are provided with sheet clamps 5o that are slidably mounten on the iingers as illustrated in Figr).

These clamps comprise the fixed jaw 56 provided with lugs 57 between which a movable jaw 59 is mounted on a pin 5S; and spring (SO normally holds the jaws in engagement and between the jaws are litted the music sheets (il that are to be turned.

lThe arms 3 are also provided with clamps GQ that are adapted to be titted over the bottom edges ot the sheets (l1 to be turned.

The clamps G2 comprise the spring members G3, G/l that are riveted together adjacent their lower ends; and the lower ends are bent to term sockets G5 that are adapted to be fitted over and ride on the saddles GG that are integral with the arms il as best` shown in Fig. Q0, there beingone of these. clamps for each of the arms.

As previously stated the back or cover of the music has the bottom edges seated are provided with are constructed as "in the rest l0 and the upper edges are held by the clamps 1l. which1 :is shown in F 4, G, are adapted to slide up and down on the beveled slats 'TT ol the holder The clamps 1l have movable jaws 78 pivoted at -79 that are adapted to be pressed into engagement with the backs or covers 8O ot the sheet music by springs 81, see Fig. 6.

In operation the music cover is placed on and secured to the rack 5 as described; then the sheets to be turned are secured to the arms 8 by the clamps 55, G2, after which the arms 3 moved from their normal to 'their set position against the tension ot the coiled springs 8l.. in which position the tast arm to be aetuated has its extensie 42 engaging the dog Belandthe other extensionsV turned the toot pedal i8 is actuated to move the trame downward, which also will move the dog Bil to release the first arm, and simultaneously move the wedge 49 t-o engage and hold hack the other arms.

The tension on spring 3l will `force the released arm from a set toward normal position; and as previously stated the spring tension is released after halt of the sheet turning movement is consummated; and momentum completes the movement.

fitter the first sheet has been turned the 'toot pedal is released so that springs 39 torce the frame upward to disengage the wedgea9 and engage the dog 3dwith the extension 42 of the next arm to he actuated.

Repeated actuation of the toot pedal 48 will release the arms 3 consecutively and at the right time for turning -the sheets of music.

I claim:

l. The music sheet turner set forth comprising a hollow pedestal; a housing sup` ported hy said pedestal; a music rack on said housing; arms pivotally mounted within said housingy and adapted to move in an arc ot a circle and sheetclamps on the arms de tachaloly connected to the music sheets, said arms normally extending to the lett hand side of said rack; coiled springs for actuating said arms that are out of tension when said arms are extendedv toward t-hel lett hand side of said rack; means for placing said springs under tension during the last half of the movement of said arms as they are moved in an arc'trom the lett to the right hand side of the rack; adog 'for holding said arms when extended toward the right hand side ot said rack; a wedge orholding the arms extended toward the right ot said rack andy means for simultaneously releasing said wedge and actuating said dog to operate saidl arms separately and in consecutive order.

2. The music sheet turner set forth com. prising a hollow pedestal; afhousing supported by said pedestal; a music rack on said housing; arms pivotally mounted within said housing and adapted to move in an arc ot a circle and sheet clamps on the arms detachably connected to the music sheets, said arms normally extending to the lett hand side ot said rack; coiled springs tor actuating said arms that are out ot tension when said arms are extei'ided toward the lettvhand side ot said rack; said springs adapted to he placed under tension during the last halt ot the movement ot' said arms as they are moved in an arc from .the lett to the right hand side ot the rack; a dog tor holding and releasing said arms when extended toward theright hand side of said rack; a wedge coprising a hollow pedestal; a housing supported hy said pedestal; a music rack on said housing; arms pivotally mounted within said housing and arranged adjacent the base ot and normally extending toward the left hand side ot said rack; clampsV 'carried byA said arms that are adapted to be attached to and hold sheets ,oit music that are to he turned; coiled springs adapted to be placed under tension lduring the last halt ot the movement of said arms as they are moved in an arc from the left'to the right hand side of said rack; a dog for holding said arms and releasing them separately and consecutively when they are extended to the right hand side ot said rack and against the tension oi said springs; a pivoted wedge coacting with said dog` to hold hack the arms extended toward the right of th rack against the tension of said spring w ien said dog is actuated to release an arm; an intermediate lever tor actuating said dog and wedge; and a cable connecting said intermediate lever with a toot pedal said cable extending through said hollow pedestal.

el. The music sheet turner set forth comprising a hollow pedestal; a housing supported by said pedestal; music rack on said housing; arms pivotally mounted within said housing and adapted to move in lan arc of a circle and figures adjust-ably mount- 'ed on said arms; sheet clamps slidable on said lingers and being detachably connected to the music sheets, said arms normally extending to the left hand side of said rack; coiled springs for actuating said arms that are out of tension when said arms are extender toward the left hand side of said rack; said springs being under tension during the last halt of the movement of said arms as they are moved in an are from the left to the right hand side of said rack; an arm extending from said spring; a post, said arm being adapted to engage said post, andv place said spring under tension, only duringl the last Yhalt of the movement oit said irst named arms as said first named arms are moved trom lett to right; and means 'or holdingV said arms when extended toward the Vright -hand side ot said rack, and Ator releasing to be detachably connected to the music e p1. ings 'of terr toward flew@ Meli il, pvoeally with said dog to irme extended toward the right of the rack, when seid dog` releases an arm and im foot pedal for actuating said dog and Wedge;

En jfesllmony whereof, have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 17th day of April, 1924.

JESSE TAYLGR GENT Y. 

